SAN JOSE / 155,000 feel the rush / Spectators take in the drama as second annual Grand Prix roars through streets

Delfin Vigil, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published 4:00 am, Monday, July 31, 2006

Photo: Jamie Rector

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July 30, 2006- Clifford Adopante, a freestyle motorcross rider, demonstrates some stunt moves for people in the Discovery Meadow area of the San Jose Grand Prix. The Grand Prix raced it's way through town for it's second year in a row, offering guests the opportunity to watch the racing as well as watching freestyle motorcross demos, various exhibit cars, music, as well as enjoy food and sunshine. Photo By: Jamie Rector
Ran on: 07-31-2006
Go-carts have their day as a side event at the Grand Prix of San Jose, offering spectators the chance to do a little racing of their own.
Ran on: 07-31-2006
Go-carts have their day as a side event at the Grand Prix of San Jose, offering spectators the chance to do a little racing of their own. less

July 30, 2006- Clifford Adopante, a freestyle motorcross rider, demonstrates some stunt moves for people in the Discovery Meadow area of the San Jose Grand Prix. The Grand Prix raced it's way through town for ... more

Photo: Jamie Rector

Image 2 of 5

July 30, 2006- While the San Jose Grand Prix raced it's way through town for it's second year in a row, observers have the opportunity to participate in driving go-carts as the Grand Prix event offered guests the opportunity to watch the racing as well as watching freestyle motorcross demos, various exhibit cars, music, as well as enjoy food and sunshine. Photo By: Jamie Rector
Ran on: 07-31-2006
Go-carts have their day as a side event at the Grand Prix of San Jose, offering spectators the chance to do a little racing of their own.
Ran on: 07-31-2006
Go-carts have their day as a side event at the Grand Prix of San Jose, offering spectators the chance to do a little racing of their own. less

July 30, 2006- While the San Jose Grand Prix raced it's way through town for it's second year in a row, observers have the opportunity to participate in driving go-carts as the Grand Prix event offered guests ... more

Photo: Jamie Rector

Image 3 of 5

GrandPrix31

GrandPrix31

Photo: Jamie Rector

Image 4 of 5

July 30, 2006- The San Jose Grand Prix raced it's way through town for it's second year in a row, offering guests the opportunity to watch the racing as well as watching freestyle motorcross demos, various exhibit cars, music, as well as enjoy food and sunshine. Photo By: Jamie Rector
Ran on: 07-31-2006
Go-carts have their day as a side event at the Grand Prix of San Jose, offering spectators the chance to do a little racing of their own.
Ran on: 07-31-2006
Go-carts have their day as a side event at the Grand Prix of San Jose, offering spectators the chance to do a little racing of their own. less

July 30, 2006- The San Jose Grand Prix raced it's way through town for it's second year in a row, offering guests the opportunity to watch the racing as well as watching freestyle motorcross demos, various ... more

Photo: Jamie Rector

Image 5 of 5

GrandPrix31

GrandPrix31

Photo: Jamie Rector

SAN JOSE / 155,000 feel the rush / Spectators take in the drama as second annual Grand Prix roars through streets

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The streets of San Jose were buzzing Sunday as the city hosted its second annual grand prix with race cars zipping through the converted downtown racetrack at speeds upward of 170 mph while some of more than 67,000 fans celebrated by drinking as many beers per hour as possible.

But it wasn't all booze, spandex and fanny packs for the now seasoned and sophisticated Grand Prix of San Jose crowd, which totaled more than 155,000 for the three-day event that began Friday.

"To be honest, I would really like to see some crashes," said Dane Overkamp, 36, who lives in Fremont, where he manages LeMans Karting go-cart racetrack.

Wearing a "Race Freak!" T-shirt and showing no signs of guilt for his wishful thinking, Overkamp said car crashes are what most race fans pay to see in person.

"It's not a bad thing when you consider that 99.9 percent of the time the racers walk away from crashes just fine," he said.

Within 10 minutes, Overkamp's wish came true with a wreck involving car No. 23 during the developmental Atlantic series race, which was the opening act before the main race. Fortunately, the driver, 24-year-old Jonathan Bomarito of Monterey, escaped without injury and was able to finish the competition.

There were no major crashes throughout the day, but a handful of spinouts and minor collisions at the hairpin turn near the end of the Almaden Boulevard straightaway served up plenty of oohs and ahhs for the sunburned crowd.

There were also no major surprises regarding results. As expected by many, 27-year-old Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais took first place in his fifth victory of the season and second San Jose Grand Prix win in a row.

But with a limited amount of grandstand seating available and only a couple of big screens set up, most of the spectators had to guess what was going on.

"My father used to take me to Laguna Seca a lot, so I'm familiar enough with racing that I can explain to my kids more or less what is going on," said Martin Boddy, 45, of Los Gatos, who along with his wife, Gail, brought their two children, Sean and Sara, to the race. "But after a while, the kids will be like, 'Dad, I don't really care.' They're just happy when they see the McDonald's race car drive by."

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While Bourdais celebrated his victory in the 97-lap race with a confetti shower, fans stocked up on souvenirs. In addition to the basic bumper stickers and T-shirts, some lucky people took home spare race car tires given away by pit crews.

"You know, I'm not sure what we're going to do with these," said Anthony Rivero of San Jose, while wheeling along two tires for his two smiling children, Alyssa and Anthony Jr. "We can put a picture in it or maybe make a coffee table out of it. I wonder if it's possible to get it autographed."

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